Municipal courts

There are municipal courts located throughout Québec. They have limited jurisdiction in civil matters, exercised mostly in connection with municipal tax claims.

The municipal courts also hear:

penal cases involving offences
- under municipal by-laws,
- under provincial Québec legislation such as the Highway Safety Code;
criminal cases involving offences punishable on summary conviction, also known as "summary offences", which follow a simplified procedure that excludes the possibility of a preliminary inquiry and a trial before jury.

Law, jurisdiction and documents

Law: Act respecting municipal courts
Jurisdiction: Limited jurisdiction in civil matters; jurisdiction in penal and criminal matters
Projet de loi no 40 – Loi visant notamment à réformer les cours municipales et à améliorer l’efficacité, l’accessibilité et la performance du système de justice (version administrative) (PDF 560 Kb)
Guide à l'intention des cours municipales (PDF 0.97 Mb)

Last update: January 5, 2026